Ditch-digging machine



I J. ENGEN; DITCH DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 14, 1917- 1,335,674. Patentgd Mar. 30, 1920.

imirnn srarns rarnnr orrron.

JOHN ENG-EN, OF BYNESSET, BODSBERG, NORW'AY, ASSIGNOR TO LANDHUSHOLD NINGSSELSKAPERNES FAELLESKJUP, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

DITCH-DIGGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14, 1917. Serial No. 201,917.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JOHN ENGEN, a subject'of the King of Norway, residing at Bynesset, Bodsberg, in the Kingdom of Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditch-Digging 'h/Iachines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othcrs'skilled in the art to' which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to ditch digging machines of the kind where a: cutting iron digs up a layer of earth the thickness of which is regulated by means of an adjusts able support at the front end of the appa ratus, and where the earth loosened by the cutting iron is conveyed to the surface by means of an inclined conveyer located behind the cutting iron. I

The invention relates to the driving arrangement for this conveyer and consists in arranging the conveyer in direct engagement with teeth at the circumference of the wheel or wheels carrying the apparatus.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a frame for carrying the conveyer and the digging element which is carried by a single ground roller so as to have a normal tendency to tilt upwardly away. from the ground to permit the machine to be easily turned and to permit the digging element to pass over obstructions in its path without being damaged thereby. The frame has a platform for receiving a weight, by means of which the digging element is'held to the ground. Preferably the operator constitutes this weight and the platform is in a position where 'the operator may readily step on and off the platform to control the digging element.

Another feature of'this invention is the provision of a trench'or ditch digging ma chine which will be capable of digging'rela- Forthepurpose the tively deep trenches. ground roller is adapted to travel along the bottom of the trench and the digging element is made wider than the roller, the frame and the conveyer, so as to dig a trench of sufficient width to permit theroller, theframe and the conveyer to freely pass through the trench.

The drawing illustrates diagrammatically a form of the invention.

The digging element is in the form of a cutting iron 1, which cuts into the. earth at a depth regulated by an adjustable guide or shoe 2,.which slides along the surface in front of cutting iron 1.

Behind the cutting iron 1 located the co'nveyer o mounted on rollers t, 5. Said conveyer is formed as a chain and on its 'undersideis engaged by'teeth 6 on wheel 7 carrying the digging apparatus. During the forward movement of the digging apparatus the'upper side of the conveyer will move backward with'the same velocity with Patented Mar.30, 1920.

which the apparatus moves forward and thus will remove the earth cut up by iron ,1

".vithout any change of speed. It will be seen that the earth dug up will practicallyperform only a vertical movement with regard .to the surroundings, and thls evidently rep resents the most economic speed for the conveying chain. At the same time the'driving arrangement for the conveyer is the simplest possible requiring no other driving wheel than the support wheel of the machine.

The cutting iron 1 is secured to the. forward end of the rectangular frame 8 which is provided with depending arms 9 about midway ofits length. The arms 9fform bearings for the shaft 10 of the single ground roller 7, and about which the frame may swing. The frame 8 has a normal tendency to tilt upwardly away from the ground, thus tending to raise the cuttlng iron 1 away from the ground. For the purpose of maintaming the cutting iron l'in its working position, as'shown in the drawing, the frame 8 is provided with a platform llwhich is secured thereto and which is located di-' rectly above the cutting iron. The platform' adapted to receive a weight to overcome the normal tendency of the frameto tilt upwardly. Preferably the operator stands on the platform for this purpose. The platform is so positioned that the operator may conveniently step off or on the platform. In rn'actice, the operator on observing "an obstruction in the pathof the cutting iron, steps off the platform, whereupon the frame tilts upwardly and the cutting iron, passes over the obstruction without being damaged or arrested thereby.

The cutting iron' 1 is wider than the ground wheel, the frame orthe conveyer and thus digs trench of sufficient width to perinitsaid parts to freely travel therein. This permits the machine to dig a relatively deep I trench.

A chute 12 receives the loose soil from the conveyer and deposits the same at the side of the trench.

, The machine is drawn through the trench by a chain 13 or other suitable draft means.

Claims: r

1. In a trench digging machine, the com- I bination of a rectangular frame which in normal working position inclinesupwardly and rearwardly from the digging end thereof; a digging element carried by the digging end. of the frame; a single ground roller carrying said frame at a point"substantially midway of' the length of the frame on which said frame is tiltable and so arran ed with respect to the weight of the frame tiat the digging end of the frame has a normal tendency to tilt upwardly away from the ground; a platform on the. frame directly above the digging element adapted to re ceive a weight for holding the digging ele ment to the ground; and an adjustable guide carried by-the frame and extending in front without engaging therewith.

of the digging element adapted to to control the depth of the cut made by the digging element.

In a trench digging machine adapted to be drawn along the ground, the combination of a rectangular-frame which in normal that the operator may stand thereon to hold 7 the digging element to the ground or move off said platform'to permit the digging element to swing upwardly to pass ran obstacle In testimony that I lalm the foregoing a my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses. .JOHN ENGEN.

WVitnesses:

C. VARMAN I C. FABRICIUS HANSEN. 

